The Pensacola Children’s Chorus is starting 2026 on a high note with its second annual fundraising event, Ovation, on Jan. 30 at the Pensacola Saenger Theatre.
The black-tie event will begin with a 6 p.m. cocktail and hors d’oeuvres hour, then a live musical program and live auction, followed by dinner, entertainment and cocktails curated by The Well.
While PCC has been hosting its Italiano fundraising event for many years, they are refocusing on a new event that better aligns with the heart of PCC’s mission, according to Cheyenne Boynton, the chorus’s director of advancement.
In addition to a short performance by the Pensacola Children’s Chorus, the evening also features a special performance by Veronica Lindholm, an alumnus of PCC.
Elements of excitement will be mixed throughout the evening, including a diamond necklace giveaway during cocktail hour and a live auction for an autographed Wicked movie poster.
Members of PCC found inspiration for Ovation from the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, whose annual fundraiser showcases performers of the chorus, followed by dinner on their stage. However, they modified the event to better capture the Pensacola Children’s Chorus, according to Boynton.
This includes the opportunity for guests to see the Saenger Theatre in a new light as it transforms into “an elegant speakeasy, complete with jazz, craft cocktails, dinner on the stage, and behind-the-scenes magic,” according to a PCC statement.
With a behind-the-scenes look at the theater, guests will see the intricacies of productions, including the various curtain dividers, lighting, backdrops and dressing rooms. One of the dressing rooms will even be converted for the night for photo opportunities.
“We’re creating an atmosphere where the glitz of the stage meets the secrets of the speakeasy,” PCC Artistic and Executive Director Alex Gartner wrote in a statement. “Our guests will experience the Saenger like only the insiders do—wandering backstage, discovering hidden corners, and becoming part of the theatrical magic that makes this venue so special.”
They will then be able to enjoy a “strolling dinner” featuring a sampling of diverse cuisine. There will be lots of mixed seating, spanning from sit-down tables to comfortable couches.
There will be a few modifications to the layout this year, including food tables that will truly be separated rather than in a long table backstage. All dinner tables will be on the stage, and the backstage area will be one big, speakeasy-style bar, serviced by The Well with craft cocktails.
Childcare is also provided through Pensacola Children’s Chorus and The Bear Levin Studer Family YMCA for children ages 5-18, but interested families must register on the PCC website under pensacolasings.com/ovation under the “register here” Google Doc form. A minimum of 10 children is needed to provide the service.
Pensacola Children’s Chorus focus of fundraiser
While the event will be filled with fun, it will have a serious impact on the lives of first through 12th-graders who participate in the Children’s Chorus, according to Boynton.
All proceeds from the event will go toward PCC’s Tuition Assistance Fund, which helps remove financial barriers to the fine arts for young people in Northwest Florida.
The Pensacola Children’s Chorus has about 300 children enrolled, spanning over 60 schools across Northwest Florida, and over 50% receive some level of tuition assistance, according to Boynton.
Beyond their music education, students develop skills that last a lifetime, including problem-solving, impulse control and empathy.
About 96% of singers report that since joining PCC, they have continued to stay out of trouble or have improved their behavior at school, about 87% of singers feel more equipped to manage anxiety and stress because of PCC, and 95% feel a strong sense of belonging, according to recent singer survey results taken by members of the Pensacola Children’s Chorus.
These are more than statistics; they are real student experiences that Boynton has witnessed. She recalls singers who came into their first rehearsals shy and hesitant to sing being completely transformed by showtime.
“When the kids get up there on the big Saenger stage with the lights, they’re excited. There’s no inhibition anymore,” Boynton said.
The Pensacola Children’s Chorus performs four main-stage shows each year, along with dozens of smaller performances throughout the community, including nursing homes, churches, tree-lighting festivals, and even at the Pensacola International Airport.
Through participation in the program, children of all walks of life are being “united through music,” according to Boynton.
“The kids tell us that they belong here more than anywhere else,” Boynton added.
In its first year in 2025, the event raised $100,000, and this year, PCC hopes to surpass that milestone.
How can I get tickets for Ovation?
Tickets are $120 per person for full access, with other discounted prices available, including $95 per person for young professionals and $15 per person for PCC families with concert-viewing access only from the balcony. If you can’t make the event, donations are also accepted.
For more information or to purchase a ticket, visit the Pensacola Children’s Chorus website, pensacolasings.org/ovation.
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.pnj.com ’
